nce again "Stargate SG-1" leaves me
neutral, which is probably the reason why this review of the season 8
premiere is over a week late. Simply put, the 2-hour episode is indicative
of the show as a whole -- it doesn't really engender any real enthusiasm
from me. Then again, since "SG-1" is one of the only two network
shows I watch regularly (I suppose you would call me "somewhat
faithful"), I felt obliged to send this review of the season premiere
out into the netherworlds (you call it the Internet).

After a three-month wait, "New Order" finds
the stalwarts of "SG-1" where we left them -- and apparently
with the same staff of writers and directors, because the vibe and feel of
the series remains steady. Which, if you are keeping score, is not a
positive thing. At this stage of its existence "SG-1" has far
surpassed its "like a well-worn old shoe" feel, meaning it's
like the Jack O'Neill character -- graying and slowing down. The show
fails to generate any real enthusiasm by way of new energy, even though
Torri Higginson, playing a civilian diplomat-cum-new head of the SGC,
manages to provide some much-needed spark. But alas, as all civilian
characters are doomed to realize, she has almost nothing to do -- at least
nothing interesting.

As seen in season 7's surprisingly excellent season
finale (I should have written a review of that!), Jack O'Neill (Richard
Dean Anderson) is still frozen inside an Ancients outpost somewhere in
Antarctica after his defeat of System Lord Anubis. Samantha Carter (Amanda
Tapping) and Teal'c (Christopher Judge) hatch a plan to use a Gou'ald ship
to seek help from the Asgards, the only race advance enough to save
O'Neill's life. While the duo are away, new SGC chief Weir and a very
atypical Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) gets a surprise visit from three
System Lords seeking a truce. But as we all know, the only trustworthy
Gou'ald is a decapitated one.

"New Order" flashes across the screen at
its appointed time, spends two hours, then disappears with nary a peep.
It's not the most spectacular season opener by any stretch, and as
previously mentioned, the show has started to become stale, as any show
that's been on so long invariably does. So it wasn't really a surprise to
learn that the Powers That Be have decided to take the small but cult
following of "SG-1" and create a spin-off show called
"Stargate: Atlantis", starring a whole new group of
"gaters", I guess you'd call them, who would be exploring the
mythical lost city. In fact, one could look at most of season 7 as an
origin season for "Atlantis", with the fabled city being
mentioned often.

"New Order" is basically a 2-hour set-up
for the series premiere of "Atlantis", with the Weir character
(formerly played by Jessica Steen last year) getting a much bigger role,
albeit not much to really do. Weir is the only character that will
be transferring over to the new series, playing, from all that I've read,
the Daniel Jackson of "Atlantis". (If the series premiere of
"Atlantis" sufficiently excites me, you will see a review of it
here; if not, then no review.) After seeing Higginson in action, I have no
doubt Dr. Weir will be an intriguing character to follow. And really,
after eight seasons, it's about time to inject some new life into the
Stargate universe.

As a stand-alone episode, "New Order" would
no doubt confuse and confound new viewers. It's to no one's surprise that
O'Neill's Han Solo-esque "demise" from last season was corrected
in a most uninspired fashion; or that the Asgards are still the most
untenable creation since Henson's muppets scared little children
everywhere. This time around the chief villains are once again those pesky
Replicators. Having learned the trick of turning themselves into human
form, the sentient machines known as Replicators now seek to escape from
their prison (as seen in a season 7 episode) as the Asgardian Thor try to
stop them.

Once again, anyone not already familiar with the
"SG-1" universe will be dumbfounded beyond belief upon tuning
into "New Order". At this point in its existence,
"SG-1" is only for the faithful and new gaters need not apply.
How is the two-hour season premiere? It's an average episode -- except
it's an hour longer. Needless to say, "24" this ain't. But at
this point I've been with "SG-1" for so long that I don't see
myself tuning it out anytime soon. As previously mentioned, it's like an
old but comfortable shoe.